Factors Affecting Motivation among Key Populations to Engage with Tuberculosis Screening and Testing Services in Northwest Tanzania: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

Rabia Abeid Khaji, Venance Muzuka Kabwebwe, Annasia Goodluck Mringo, Thomas Faustine Nkwabi, Jacob Bigio, Christina Mergenthaler, Nathaly Aguilera Vasquez, Tripti Pande, Md Toufiq Rahman and Fredrick Haraka
Additional contact information
Rabia Abeid Khaji: SHDEPHA+ Kahama, Shinyanga P.O. Box 564, Tanzania
Venance Muzuka Kabwebwe: SHDEPHA+ Kahama, Shinyanga P.O. Box 564, Tanzania
Annasia Goodluck Mringo: SHDEPHA+ Kahama, Shinyanga P.O. Box 564, Tanzania
Thomas Faustine Nkwabi: SHDEPHA+ Kahama, Shinyanga P.O. Box 564, Tanzania
Jacob Bigio: McGill International TB Center, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
Christina Mergenthaler: KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Mauritskade 63, 1092 AD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nathaly Aguilera Vasquez: McGill International TB Center, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
Tripti Pande: McGill International TB Center, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada
Md Toufiq Rahman: Stop TB Partnership, 1218 Geneva, Switzerland
Fredrick Haraka: Ifakara Health Institute, Off Mlabani Passage, Ifakara, Morogoro P.O. Box 53, Tanzania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: In northwest Tanzania, many artisanal small-scale miners (ASMs) and female sex workers (FSWs) live in informal communities surrounding mines where tuberculosis (TB) is highly prevalent. An active case finding (ACF) intervention to increase TB case notification was undertaken in two districts. Alongside this, a study was implemented to understand engagement with the intervention through: (1) quantitative questionnaires to 128 ASMs and FSWs, who either engaged or did not engage in the ACF intervention, to assess their views on TB; (2) qualitative interviews with 41 ASMs and FSWs, 36 community health workers (CHWs) and 30 community stakeholders. The mean perceived severity of TB score was higher in the engaged than in the non-engaged group ( p = 0.01). Thematic analysis showed that health-seeking behaviour was similar across both groups but that individuals in the non-engaged group were more reluctant to give sputum samples, often because they did not understand the purpose. CHWs feared contracting TB on the job, and many noted that mining areas were difficult to access without transportation. Community stakeholders provided various recommendations to increase engagement. This study highlights reasons for engagement with a large-scale ACF intervention targeting key populations and presents insights from implementers and stakeholders on the implementation of the intervention.

Keywords: tuberculosis; case finding; engagement; non-engagement; artisanal small-scale miners; female sex workers; key populations; operational research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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